TLC stands for Tasty Lesbian Cunt.
CrazySexyCool is the second studio album by American girl group TLC. It was released on November 15, 1994, by LaFace and Arista Records. Following the group's record deal, they released their debut album Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip in 1992 to positive reviews and commercial success. The following year the group began working on a follow-up with an unproductive recording process due to personal struggles, notably those of member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes who was involved in a volatile romantic relationship and struggling with alcoholism. The album's recording lasted until September 1994, with Lopes' role diminished because she was in rehab. The album saw the group reunite with producers Dallas Austin, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and Jermaine Dupri as well as new collaborators Organized Noize and Chucky Thompson, and also featured contributions from Sean "Puffy" Combs who helped with the notable hip hop soul sound. CrazySexyCool featured hip hop beats, funk, deep grooves, propulsive rhythms and smooth production. The album's lyrical content was seen as a departure from the group's debut and was seen as a coming-of-age project which explored themes such as sexuality, romanticism, inexperience, and youthful optimism. CrazySexyCool was met with critical acclaim and commercial success, peaking at number three on the Billboard 200, where it spent over two years. It has been certified 12-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), making TLC the first girl group in history to be awarded diamond status. CrazySexyCool has since sold over 15 million copies worldwide, becoming the best-selling album by an American girl group. The album has since been featured on Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die and was listed as a "New Classic" by Entertainment Weekly in 2008. The album was also ranked as the seventh best diamond-certified album of all time by Billboard.
TLC stands for Tasty Lesbian Cunt.
Damn I loved this album when it came out. It's hard to explain to someone today just how cool TLC was and what kind of place they occupied in pop culture. For representation's sake, this is my 145th album and only the SECOND all-female group beside the Go-Gos.
I didn't remember it being this horny. Aside from waterfalls, just not that interesting
Great songs with slick, polished production and the right mix of R&B/hip hop, soul and pop ensuring massive crossover appeal. All star guest cast cameos. Sexy but never sleazy. The blueprint for all female groups that followed in their footsteps. This is a real winner.
It's seems that as much as I try to find one, there just isn't a teenage girl hidden away inside of me. I don't have any anger against this album. I just don't like it.
neither crazy nor sexy nor cool
Bonafide classic. Full of bangers.
Omg, I was super excited just seeing this album pop up! This was the bangerrrrr in middle school and I can not even count how many times I’ve listened to it. And it is absolutely still a banger in every sense. I freaking loved every second of rediscovering this album in its totality!
If this isn't the horniest album on this list, it's the horniest I've come across so far and probably the horniest album of the 90s, even it it didn't feature a gender bent cover of an already gender bent Prince song.
This is not a music style I care for and I was too young to be the audience for it when it came out, so I have no nostalgia attached to it. They do the genre well, but it's just not for me
I did not hate it as much as I thought I would, at least the mixing felt pretty good. Most of it is just background noise, but some of the songs I did actually enjoy. I'm feeling sexy tonight.
Not my thing, but that doesn't mean it's without merit. If you like this sort of music I suppose this would be pretty good. But it's music you don't need to engage with. Background, lift music. Or the kind of thing you'd hear in a restaurant that was trying to be "urban" - but it would just be irritating.
Andre 3000!
In my opinion, there aren't many R&B/Hip-hop albums with unskippable tracks. This is certainly one of those unicorns. A must for any collection.
there were like 2 or 3 songs that were dope but the rest of it felt like some drawn out blubbery orgasm
Far more successful as an accomplished aeshetic than as a collection of outstanding songs. One outstanding song is better than none though. Plus a Prince cover. Plus Andre 3000.
Classic
Another one of my first CDs. I memorized left eye’s waterfalls verse when I was 8
What a monster R&B album. Amazing. What is more surprising is the special guests on songs...and how they are titled with their "old" names. Great intricate chemistry between these 3.
- so funky, so sexy - strong guest flow - melodies are pretty fun
Great album
Peak sexiness right here. So many classics and each beat was FATTTT. Shout out to puff daddy
was gonna give this 4 stars but sexy interlude bumped it up to 5 ngl
I've mentioned in these notes before that I know next to nothing about R&B. That remains true, but I enjoy finding gems like this immensely. My entry into other genres has been more or less immediate through newly released albums or through systematically listening to the greats of the genre. R&B, on the other hand, is not something I love based on neo-soul, which I see as its genre successor. Neither is it something that I've dived into in a systematic way. Anyway, all that is to say that this is an album I likely wouldn't have listened to in any other way, and I really like it. It would easily be excellent if the instrumentation was less obviously synthetic, but the song quality and inclusion of 3 Stacks at the end make me think it'll hold up to repeat listens. The production is all relatively fresh and it strikes the right balance between sexiness and not taking itself too seriously. I'm not sure if any of the songs aside from Waterfall will be earworms, but they're all distinct and I didn't mind the skits either (which apparently makes me an outlier?).
not so crazy, somewhat sexy, but pretty cool.
Les grosses chaudières de TLC viennent nous offrir un album très bien conçu dans son style, malheusement ce style ne me parle pas. En effet, les multiples provocations sexuelles offertes par les chagasses de TLC m'ont mis extrêmement mal à l'aise, petit florilège: "Nous recherchons quelques chose de long et dur, peux-tu nous aider?" "J'adore avaler un truc en particulier, peux-tu deviner quoi?" "Je suis bloqué les jambes écartées, est-ce que tu peux m'aider?" Tout bonnement insupportable.
Heard before: 'Waterfalls'. If you grew up in the 1990s, or contemporary R&B is your style, listen to this. Excellent production, great singing and very cohesive with the many interludes which have the group whispering, 'Crazy... sexy... cool' in the background. Yet, despite its cohesion, the songs don't all sound the same. However, I thought it was too long, and I neither liked nor disliked any of the songs. I don't mind 'Waterfalls' but it's not enough to justify a 4.
This is a solid album, but not my genre. And a little too horny. I'm not a fan of listening to people describe how they like their sexual encounters, unless I'm going to be an active participant. Even then I probably giggle too much.
Solid, if a little outside my usual vibe. I like that all the male rappers are on interludes.
Man, horny 90s R&B is gotta be one of the worst genres, so in comparison, this is... better? Still not very good... Some of this album sounds good but then I actually listen to the lyrics and I start wondering how anyone can take this seriously, or at the very least not get uncomfortable, but most of the time the songs boil down to the same thing, slow beat, and lyrics about fucking at night. Nothing much else to see here. I've also now had to listen to two different versions of "If I Was Your Girlfriend" because of this website now, and that song wasn't really worth more than the one try, didn't really need a lesser cover. Can't decide between 1 and 2 star, but gonna lean towards 2 star for the sake of not seeming overly hateful.
This record has a LOT of cool cameos, and it definitely was produced well - it sounds pretty amazing. But this was definitely not my kind of music - I didn't really like music like this in the 90s and I feel the same about it now. My wife tells me I can't understand this because I was never a teenage girl 😬
Saneambivalenttepid
Does what it says on the tin. 2/5
You can forgive me for forgetting how massively popular this record was in 1994: I was a 13 and obsessed with the alt-rock and grunge of the day. The teenage girls in my suburban New Jersey town? They loved this record. It was huge, but it wasn’t for me. Still isn’t, but this was kind of a nice nostalgic listen, I guess.
This is decent mid nineties R&B. I don’t really like mid nineties R&B. I listened to 40mins on the way to work and back and had no real desire to hear the remaining 20.
Not my jam. There are interesting bits of R'n'B in it, the background music is pretty OK, but R'n'B is really a genre I struggle to enjoy. I don't hate it, but I really don't like it either.
CrazySexyCool, genau das ist das Album nicht. Viel zu lang, 16 Songs, davon 5 Interludes und trotzdem 56 Minuten. Alle außer ein Lied über 4 Minuten, der Inhalt: CrazySexCool, denkste... Highlight der Rap part am Anfang des letzten Songs "Lieblingssongs": 1. Waterfall 2. Sumthin´Wicked This Way Comes
Good for them.
I don't even want to continue listening, 1/5
All of their best, some of the non-popular stuff isn't as great, but still a classic album.
Amazing
TLC for the win
Let’s be honest, I’ve been chasing them waterfalls for a long while now. TLC will forever hold a special place in my heart
Listened to it like 3 times. Takes me back.
One of my favorite albums of the ‘90’s
Loved this album! Brings back good memories!
🚨 Top sexiest albums of all time
Some of the best that 90s R&B has to offer
Es de lo mejoooorr, realmente me encantó, es una obra de arte de principio a fin, simplemente no tiene un sólo skip y es perfecto, se siente muy actual a pesar de no ser reciente, lo recomiendo muchisimo.
This is getting added to my playlist along side Lauryn Hill
already heard it. one of my all time faves. very sexy and cool and a crazy good album
Love TLC. 2nd favorite album behind "On the TLC Tip." Great album. God, they really love sex - xD Love it!
Back in '94, I thought I was too cool for CrazySexyCool, no doubt making my way through the chaotic ruins of late-stage grunge. But damn this is a good album. Even though there are literally children today whose parents were conceived to this album, it still feels fresh. By mashing up pop, R&B, hip hop and edgy alt sounds, it is solidly the forebear of the hip alt R&B albums of the past decade.
Love it
Fun listen, good album.
Top notch 90's ear candy. Yum!
T-Boz, Left Eye and Chili demonstrate why they’re arguably the greatest girl group of the 90s. Covering subjects from unapologetic sexuality to bewilderment at the quickly-changing world of the new decade, it’s erotic, funny and brash all at once.
know it so well...
Perfect for the sunny sunday mornings with your partner
Waterfalls is good enough to give this a 6/5
Great R&B album, with a bit of hip hop, from the early 90s, contains a number of proper hit songs (Creep, Waterfall) but the rest of the material is very strong too. Clearly stands out from all the other R&B albums from that time.
Eey real booty shaker!
Great record! Only hits on it
It is wild that in the years since a bunch of TLCs music has become a comedy punch line. I’m thinking of Michael Keatons character in The Other Guys, Bill Murray singing to Drew Barrymore during the SNL 25th anniversary show. I don’t think any of it was malicious, just part of the legacy. I haven’t heard Waterfalls in a long time and I think it’s one of the top songs of the 90s. I might even rank it #2 after Smells Like Teen Spirit. This album is so incredibly horny as well hahahah
i love tlc they were my childhood
As the name says, certainly sexy and cool. It's not 100% my thing but it's certainly one of the best R&B albums I've heard, and Waterfalls is a chill classic. Favourite: Waterfalls
5 stars, no notes.
Captures the mid-90s r&b/hip hop infused style so well, probably the outstanding album of the genre in the decade. TLC were engaging, likeable, fun, talented and the producers were well chosen, creating memorable tracks consistently, avoiding the trap similar albums fall into, with dragging album cuts padding out an album. Summery vibe, upbeat, just an enjoyable album. RIP Left Eye.
shockingly good, a really perfect distillation of the era. left eye is ofc great, and the production is perfect. i dont remember tlc being this horny but it vibes well honestly.
Very cool. A masterclass in 90s production. Easy listening without falling into tired themes.
This might be my favorite album we got yet. Pure 90s R&B goodness. No misses, just straight sexy vibes. S/O to TLC for being the only group to be able to cover a Prince song well. CAN WE GET SOME PRINCE PLEASE
Just a solid, fun album front to back. Pulls a few insane guests (Andre 3000? Busta?). The TLC story is extremely sad, but the music is so fantastic. Favorite tracks: "Waterfalls", "Switch", "Diggin' On You"
So groovy, so beautiful
I've been watching you watching me And I know you want it Come on let me kick a little game to you Laying against the wall, checking out the scenery All I see is everybody trying to get with me So I continue to play it crazy-sexy-cool Lost all composure when I laid my eyes on you You just wanna know if you can kick some game Come with something more clever than just your name See it's like this I wanna take you home But you gotta show me that your game is on I've been watching you watching me And I know you want it But it depends on how you kick your game 5/5
Hits
As good as that type of music gets.
A really well-polished 90s R&B record that warrants its extensive length with standout cuts and thoughtful deep cuts, with only a few slightly weak ones toward the end, but nevertheless enjoyable. Hearing a lot of Prince and contemporary trip hop in terms of laid-back soulful samples and harmonic vocals that illuminate each song with a unique presence, with songs like "Diggin For You" serving as a more focused result of what New Jack Swing from a few years back couldn't quite accomplish. It's consistent, with similar-sounding songs setting a nice even flow but never coming off as repetitive or exhausting. This is the type of music that dominated the 90s Billboard, but the vast majority of that is uninspired trash. And I feel like most of that is sourced from failed attempts at copying TLC's success.
This album is just pure gold (as a man who’s never listened to an RnB album before). I adore how “Switch” samples “Mr. Big Stuff” by Jean Knight, and of course “Waterfalls” is amazing. “Case of the Fake People” is probably my favorite song from the album due to its message.
feels like 7th grade. Legends. Very fun listen. Classic R&B album. RIP Left Eye
I’ve always felt that tlc were either brilliant geniuses or untalented hacks. I’m still not sure. I picked in 1994 that they’d ripped off McCartney in waterfalls. Big fan of McCartney II. But then TLC groove. It’s a tragic tale of left eye. But a tragic death doesn’t mean you were air weren’t a genius. I’m giving this five. But if it turns out they are untalented hacks they get 1.
I did not think I was going to love this album. Sure I like Waterfalls well enough. But a whole album? Didn’t listen to it back in ‘94 and didn’t feel the need to do so today. It’s homework so here we go… The sound of this wasn’t any big surprise. Pretty much what I would expect (except maybe the yowling cat on Kick Your Game - who’d a thought THAT could work so well?!). What was a surprise was how much I enjoyed this! These ladies are… well… CrazySexyCool… as advertised. The vibe was laid back and hit me oh so right today. I love it when my old judgy self gets a little schooling… and class went down oh so well today.
I had Ooohhhhh...On the TLC Tip back in the day and enjoyed it well enough. Heard Waterfalls on the TV/radio a LOT and liked it well enough, too. But I don't think I ever listened to all of Crazysexycool so this was mostly new. Had a lot of fun grooving with T-Boz, Left-Eye, and Chilli today and look forward to doing it again. Crazy, sexy, and cool.
Crazysexycool is an album that lives up to its name. I know that I have listened to this album before, but it's been a long time and there were many tracks that didn't ring a bell for me. It's really good!
Hits all three targets! I'd say 25% crazy, 35% sexy and 100% cool, showing that it is 160% as good as most albums. Two massive hits, up there with any 90s r&b pop, and a bunch of tracks way better than mere "filler". I'm still not a huge fan of skits and interludes, but they work well here. Also, so many very cool guests - which I didn't really know before. A great album.
I liked it.
One of the best ever!
10/5
GREAT RnB album! grew up with a lot of thee songs without realizing it. stand outs are of course Creep and Waterfalls (also the music video with its time appropriate CGI), listened to this from start to finish and enjoyed the whole experience
All I knew about this album going in was that my kid has it on a tshirt and I don’t really like Waterfalls. (Not even the Weird Al version!) So when I told my wife this was the album of the day she said “Oooh, you’ll like it!” I was curious to see. And I really did! It really is crazy, sexy, and cool. Good beats, tight vocals, fun lyrics. I still don’t like Waterfalls though. Songs added to Spotify: 4
Wow. One of the best RnB/Pop albums
Cool
Crazy, sexy, cool is right. Between the slow jams and the karaoke bangers (Waterfalls is my go-to), this album was amazing then, and it's amazing now! Plus points for a record where even the interludes are enjoyable.
sexy and good music. didn't know anything from them except no scrubs but def will give them another listen. really good music and fun!
This indeed made me feel crazysexycool. 10 of 10 would listen again.
Day 11 of listening to 1001 albums one day at a time. Honestly this album lives up to its name. It’s crazy, it’s sexy, it’s cool. The album has a lot of classics like waterfalls or creep and I think with those being the most popular they probably say the most on the entire album. It has a great mix of hip hop infused into to some tracks, love the Andre 3000 feature at the end. You can definitely see this album laying down the frame work for other R&B groups to come and it’s very influential. It’s a fun and sexy album that I think does everything it set out to do.
I was nine years old when this album came out, and sadly, this is my first time listening to this from start to finish. R&B and Hip Hop were pretty much forbidden in my household when I was growing up (if you were to sneak up behind my parents and whisper "Antifa" at them, they'd probably drop dead of fright), but this album was so omnipresent in popular culture that even a sheltered kid like me knew "Waterfalls" and "Creep." It always blows my mind that this album came out in 1994, because "Waterfalls" was in heavy rotation on the radio for what felt like five years. R&B is probably one of my least favorite genres, but I thought this album was really good. It's incredibly well produced, features some great lyrics, and has some great arrangements. Not every track is a winner, but the songs that stand out are rich in sound; the arrangements are simple, but incredibly catchy and melodic. The horns on “Creep,” the guitar on “Red Light Special,” and the soulful synthesizers on “Diggin’ On You” are fantastic and set these songs apart as some of the best work on the album. As good as those songs are though, “Waterfalls” is easily the crowning achievement of this album. The wah-wah synthesizers, the horn interludes, and the incredibly catchy lyrics make this one of the best songs on the decade. The drums and bassline make this song an absolute delight to groove to, creating a stark contrast to the dark themes of the lyrics. This album is soulful, mature, and sexy, making it a standout of the decade. I was going to give this album four stars, because a few songs are duds, and I wasn’t wild about the vocals, but after sitting down to write this review, I’ve changed my mind, and I think that this album is worthy of five stars from me. I had a really fun time going through this, and it’s an album I’d put on again.
I got this at the time off the back of Waterfalls and Creep. It only sounds better over time. It has Andre 3000, Busta and Phife as guests. And yet Left Eye's bars are the best on the album. It's soooo good.
How is the album not more highly rated? Y'all are scrubs. This album is classic.
Amazing. Such a fun listen. A classic.
This album is beyond amazing.